Peocess of and apparatus foe obtaining chloeine and sodium



(No Model.) 2 Sheet-Sheet 1.

A. L. N'OLF. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING GHLORINEQAND somum.

No. 271,906. Patented Feb. 6, 1883.

NY PETERS. Ptmo-L'lthoxnphen Wuhingwn. D. (L

2 Shee'tsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. L.'NOLF. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS POR OBTAINING CHLORINE AND SODIUM.

Patented Feb. 6,1883.

N. PEYERS. muu nwr, Wm n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT. @FFICE.

AnDRnL'noPoLD N'OLF, 01 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

, PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING CHLORlNE AND SODIUM.

SPECIFIOATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 271,906, dated February6, 188B.

Application filed October 5. 1882. (No model.) Patented in BelgiumSeptember 1, 1882. v

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDRE LEOPOLD Now, asubject of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, and residingatBrussels, Belgium, have 5 invented a new and useful process of andapparatus for the productionof chlorine gas and of metallic sodium bythe decomposition of chlorideof sodium through the agency ofdynamic'electricity, (for which I have obtained to a patent in Belgium,bearing date thelst of September, 1882,) of which the following-is aspecification.

My invention relates to certain means and apparatus for decomposingchloride of sodium 1 5 by dynamic electricity into two constituentelements-via, sodium and chlorine- -the decomposition being eflected bymeans of a special form of -vat or trough, which I call the N 01fApparatrrs, and into which is placed the solution of chloride of sodiumto be acted upon. The various effects produced simultaneously by theNolf apparatus are as follows: The sodium is reduced to a metallic stateand prevented while in that state from decomposing 2 5 the water of thesolutioninwhich it is placed. The chlorine is allowedto disengage itselfin a gaseous state, so that it may beeasily collected. All polarizationof the electrodes'in the bath which is subjected to decomposition c isprevented. The solution of chloride of sodium is always maintained atthe same degree of concentration withoutthe necessity of stopping thedecompositionfor a single moment. v

3 5 The following is a description of the apparatus, referencebeing hadto thethree figures of the annexed drawings.

Figure l isa vertical transverse section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section 4.0 on line as a; of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is asectional detail view on the liney y of Fig. 1.

A is a trough, made of hard wood, its interior being coated with avarnish which will resist the action of the chlorine.

B is the bottom of trough, formed of sheetiron, perfectly flat. w r

G is a rim or flange of sheet-iron, which encircles the whole of the-vator trough, forming a rim or ledge on its outside of about eight or5013611 centimeters, ontowhich the cover of the apparatus is bolted. i a

D is'the cover, also formed of sheet-iron, slightly domed, and perfectlyadjusted to the rim or flange.

E are boltsplaced at equal dis} noes around the whole circumferenceofthe cover, and which, when once tightened up, should insure a hermeticclosing. An india-rubber ring is placed between the cover and the rim orflange to secure this perfect closing.

G is a vertical iron shaft or axle passing through the center of theapparatus cover.

H is an axle or shaft, formed of hard wood, perfectly true, and fixedsolidly to the iron axle, of which it forms the continuation.

I is a stuffing-box, in which the axle G revolves freely, while at thesame time maintaining a hermetic closing.

J is a cast-'ron sleeve inclosing the lower end of the wooden axle H.The upper part, L L, of the sleeve is arranged in theform of a cross tosupport four wooden arms, hereinafter described. w B. is a bearing fixedto the bottom of the vat or trough.

MM are arms, formed of hard wood, strongly fixed by means of bolts N Nto the cross of the iron sleeve.

0 O are pieces ofgas-retort carbon, thirty centimeters long, tencentimeters wide, and'three or four centimeters thick. Passing throughthe wooden arms M, they project a short dis tance above the upper part,and are fastened to the arms in such a manner as not to move in any way.These carbons form the positive electrode of the decomposing-bath.

c 11 represent a layer of mercuryone centimeter in thickness resting onand covering the bottom of theapparatus, and forms the negativeelectrode of the bath.

P is an iron tube of five millimeters interior diameter, bentlike asiphon, and provided with a cock, also made of iron, for emptying themercury when required.

Q. is a mercury-pressure gage for indicating the pressure which may beformed inside the apparatus.

R is an irontube one centimeter in diameter, rigidly fixed to the cover,which it traverses, and passes down to within two millimeters of thebottom of the apparatus. This tube is for the purpose of charging theapparatus with mercury when necessary, and its upper part is widened outin the form of a funnel.

S is a leaden tube three centimeters interior diameter, fixed on thecover, and serving for the escape of the chlorine gas.

T is the gearing for communicating a slow and regular rotary motion tothe vertical axle.

U is a partition of thin wood, fixed rigidly to the inside of the woodentrough, and serving to producea continuous stirring of the solutionwhenthe agitator is-in motion. This partition is called a depolarizer,because the stirring it produces prevents any adherence of bubbles ofgas to the surface of the electrodes.

V is a glass tube of small diameter passing through the apparatus coverand resting on the layer of mercury on the bottom. In this tube is acopper wire which puts the layer of mercury in the apparatus intocommunication with the negative pole of a dynamo-electric machine.

X is a copper ring fixed to the axle Gr, but at the same time completelyinsulated therefrom by an intermediate sleeve of india-rubber orgutta-percha.

Yis an iron piece'fixed at its base to the cover, but completelyinsulated there-from,-its upper part carrying a flat brush of silveredcopper wire, which impinges against the circumference of the ring X.This brush is put into communication with the positive pole of thedynamo-electricmachine by means of a copper conducting-wire.

a is a small vertical groove on the iron axle, commencing at the placewhere the ring X is fixed and terminating at the lower end of the ironaxle.

b is a platinum wire fitting into the groove a, from which it isinsulated, and serving to conduct the electric current from the ring Xto the upper part of 'all the carbons O O, to which it is stronglyfastened by means of pinchers or fasteners of any kind. When thecontacts are perfectly established the platinum wire, the pinchers orfasteners and all the other points of contact are carefully covered orcoated with a mastic varnish not affected by the chlorine. It is alsoessentially necessary to insure the perfect insulation of" the platinumwire from the cross L L of the pivot-sleeve.

e e are tubes of vulcanized india-rubber, eight centimeters interiordiameter, fixed to and passing through the cover. The bottoms of thesetubes are made very thick, and they are pierced with a number of smallholes up to about ten centimeters from their bottom. The upper part ofthese tubes is slightly widened or funnel-shaped. They are keptconstantly filled with chloride of sodium, and are called alimentarytubes, their object being to always maintain the solution underdecomposition at the same degree of concentration.

Having thus completely established the apparatus, the cover is wellbolted on, and a concentrated solution of chloride of sodium in a coldstate is allowed to flow into the apparatus by means of an india-rubbertube arranged in any suitable manner. When it has reached a height offorty-five centimeters the inletcock is closed and a dynamo-electricmachine (which should be placed as close as possible to the apparatus)is put in motion. A slow and regular motion is imparted to the axle G,when the decomposition of the chloride of sodium instantly commences.The liberated sodium is attracted to the negative electrodet' e., themercury-with whichit forms an amalgam, which preserves it from anydecomposing action on the water, while the chlorine in a gaseous state,finding no body at the positive electrode with which it can combine,disengages itself abundantly, flowing through the escape-tube S in thecover. The sodium or the am al gam of sodium is collected by simplyopenin g the cock on the small emptying-tube P at the bottom of theapparatus. This amalgam is very fluid when care is taken not to allow itto become charged with too much sodium, and it flows of itself. towardthis tube by slightly tilting the whole apparatus. When the mercurycharged with sodium has been extracted and the apparatus placed uprightthe inlettube R is opened, allowing a fresh charge of I pure mercury toflow to the bottom of the apparatus. The general arrangement of theapparatus is such that the two operations effected by one attendant arecompleted without the necessity of stopping the dynamo-electric machine.The sodium contained in the amalgam is then utilized as required.

By distilling a part only of the mercuryaconcentrated amalgam of sodiummay be formed, the use of which is so important in the treatment of goldor silver ores by amalgamation.

By distilling the whole of the mercury, pure sodium is obtained for thetreatment of certain metallic ores. Finally, caustic soda, chemicallypure, may be manufactured and a large quantity of hydrogen obtained bysimply placin g the sodium amalgam in warm water, which is rapidlydecomposed.

As regards the gaseous chlorine, it is conducted by the escape-tube S tothe place where it is required to be used-either to the limechambers forforming hypochlorite of lime, or into a solution of sodaforforminghypochlorite of soda, or into a series of Woulff'appara-. tusto mix with water and form chlorated water to the maximum ofchlorination, or directly into paper-pulp or tissue bleaching troughs,or into special receivers containing auriferous arsenical pyritespreviously well roasted and slightly moistened with water for thephrpose of effecting the complete chlorination of the gold contained inthe pyrites. Finally, the chlorine gas may be utilized by: meansofspecial apparatus to rapidly chlorate the silver contained in a largenumber of oxidized metallic ores.

By the above-described apparatus and process l practically utilize forindustrial purposes the strong aifinity of sodium when in a nascentstate for mercury, and thereby insure the stability of the amalgamatedsodium so long. as it remains hnder electric'influence. Further, Iutilize the absolute want-of affinity of chlorine in a nascent state forgas-retort carbon, forming thepositive electrode,thereb y in thepresence of mercury audin a close vessel, as. described. i v

2. The apparatusfordecomposing chloride of sodium for the production ofchlorine gas and metallic sodium, consisting of a closed receptaclefitted with suitable supply-pipes and provided with conductors of anelectric circuit connected to a negative electrode of mercury and apositive electrodeof carbon contained in the vessel, substantially asshown and de- 30 scribed. 1 j

3. In apparatusf or decomposing chloride of sodium, the combination andarrangement, substantially as described, of the shaft H and arms M,carrying the carbon electrodes, with 3 5 the closed receptacle, for thepurpose of agitatin g the solution.

4. In apparatus for decomposing chloride of sodium, the fixed partitionor depolarizer U, in

combination with the vessel A and revolving 4o agitator.

5. In apparatus for decomposing chloride of "sodium, the perforatedtubes 6, combined with tlievessel A, substantially as shown anddescribed, for containing chloride of sodium for 4 5 obtaiuinganautomatic and continuous satura-j tion of the solution in the vessel.

ANDRE LEOPOLD NOLF.

' Witnesses:

AUG. FORISSEN, FRANQOIS DEBRUYN.

